UPnP communication system and method for active standby mode

Abstract

An UPnP communication system and method for supporting an active standby mode is provided. A media system according to exemplary embodiments includes: a player configured to play back media in an active mode; and a processor configured to provide device information of the player to a controller in a standby mode, and activate the player when the controller requests playback of media. Accordingly, the fewest renderers excluding media playback are operated, so that media can be played back according to a request from the controller even when a media renderer enters a low-power mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A media system comprising:
 a media renderer comprising a network interface, that
 communicates with a media server and a media controller through the network interface and 
 plays back media stored in the media server in an active mode; and 
 
 a micro renderer connected with the media renderer that
 maintains device information of the media renderer, 
 provides, via the network interface, the maintained device information of the media renderer to the media controller while the media renderer is in a standby mode, and 
 activates the media renderer into the active mode so as to play back the media when the media controller requests play back of the media via the network interface, 
 
 wherein the micro renderer is free of a media playback function, 
 wherein the micro renderer is free of communication function with the media server, 
 wherein the micro renderer is in a standby state while the media renderer is in activation state, 
 wherein the maintained device information of the media renderer comprises a device explanation, network connection and attributes, 
 wherein the media renderer receives, via a network, the media from the media server and plays back the received media, and 
 wherein the media renderer plays back the media in a home network environment of a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) standard. 
 
     
     
       2. The media system of  claim 1 , wherein the media renderer and micro renderer are recognized by the media controller as a single renderer. 
     
     
       3. The media system of  claim 1 , wherein the media renderer and micro renderer have a same network address. 
     
     
       4. A media playback method, the method performed by a media system comprising a media renderer for playing back media, a network interface and a micro renderer connected with the media renderer and maintained device information of the media renderer, the method comprising:
 providing, by a micro renderer through the network interface unit, the maintained device information of the media renderer to a media controller while the media renderer is in a standby mode; and 
 when a media playback request is received from the media controller, activating, by the micro renderer, the media player into an active mode; 
 playing back, by the media player through the network interface, media stored in a media server, 
 wherein the micro renderer is free of a media playback function, 
 wherein the micro renderer is free of communication function with the media server, 
 wherein the micro renderer is in a standby state while the media renderer is in an activation state, 
 wherein the maintained device information of the media renderer comprises a device explanation, network connection and attributes, 
 wherein the media renderer receives, via a network, the media from the media server and plays back the received media, and 
 wherein the media renderer plays back the media in a home network environment of a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) standard.